Roscommon nun to feature on an RTÉ GAA documentary tonight

A Roscommon nun will feature on an RTÉ documentary charting the rise and importance of the GAA in Irish society.

Sister Pauline Gibbons will recount how she travelled home from England to line out for Roscommon in the 1977 All Ireland ladies football final against Cavan on tonight's episode of 'Hell for Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football'.

After leaving the Roscommon football team mid-season to join the Augustinian Order in England, then 18 year old midfielder Sister Pauline Gibbons was given a special dispensation to travel home to play in the 1977 All Ireland final.

Sister Pauline was initially denied permission to play in Roscommon’s semi final clash against Kerry.

When the team reached the final, the Roscommon County Board pleaded with Mother Superior Sister Leonie to allow Pauline to travel home from her Sussex convent to play against Cavan.

The story received great interest from the media and as a result, 3,000 spectators turned up to watch the final held in Dr Hyde Park.

However, there was to be no divine intervention for Roscommon as Cavan prevailed 4-3 to 2-3.

The third episode in RTÉ’s five part series is called Age of Empires and features Kerry legend Mick O'Connell talking about his own legacy and the future of Gaelic football.

The documentary also explores Mick O'Dwyer's moves towards unprecedented success, the re-emergence of the sleeping giants of Mayo and the appearance of women on the frontline in the 1970s.

'Hell for Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football' will air tonight on RTÉ1 at 9.35 p.m. and is available to stream on RTÉ Player.